Knockdown shelving



Dec. 6, 1932. E. c. CORDES 1,890,076

KNOCKDOWN SHELVING Filed Jan. 29, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet l novato@ Edward6. amies 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 E. C. CORDES KNOCKDOWN SHELVING Filed Jan. 29,1931 @51j @f7 W abtouuus Dec. 6, 1932.

Dec. 6, 1932.

v E. c. CORDES KNOCKDOWN SHELVING 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed Jan. 29, 1931 e5fgnuemtoz Edwa a C. Cordes jyia Dec. 6, 1932. E. c. CORDES KNOCKDOWNISHELVING Filed Jan. 29, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 gwvmtov Edu/a nl arc-Zes'www,

Patented' Dec. e, 1932 finalizan` sfluairas4 PATENT GFFC nnWAnn c.oonnns, or CINCINNATI, ono, AssGNon To THE :aYni-i rank LUI/[Ban coil/L-PANY, or CINCINNATI, onio, a conformeren or onio' KNooKnoWN sHni-NINGApplication sied January a9, 1931. senai No. 512,022.

conditions.

Another object is to provide shelving of this rind in which attentionhas been given to the appearance as well as to the utility thereof.

Another object is to construct such installation having means forvariable arrangement of the shelves thereof.

Another object is to provide new and eiiieient forms of mounting meansfor shelving of the class described.

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which;

Fier. 1 is a front elevational view with parts brolen away, of erectedshelving units of the 'A present invention.

Fig. 9. is a view taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. with part broken away. ll 1 Fig. 3 is a view nnilar to Fig. 2 biit snowing a modified form ofstructure.

Fig. 4.- is a view taken on linev of 1, with parts broken away.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional Vview taken on line 5-5 of Fig.4;.

Fig. (i is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view-showing shelf-mountingmea-ns of this invention.

'"' a cross-sectional view taken on of Fi 6.

s a fragmentary elevational View ripper nortionsof the shelving units ofthe invention.

1 g. 9 is a fragmentary elevational view 1 bottom portions of theshelving units, parts being shown in cross section.

Fig. 1() is a cross-sectional line -10 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a` fragmentary cross-sectional view of shelving-unitconnecting means and associated structure. 4

Fig. 12 is an end elevational view, with parts broken away, of amodified forni of shelving structure of this invention.

F ig. 13 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 13-13 of Fig.12;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of modifiedshelf-supporting means shown in the two preceding figures, a shelf beingshown in cross section.

Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view, taken on line 15--15 of Fig. 14, thisview showing mounting means for continuous shelving provided by thisinvention.

Fig. 16is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 16-16 of Fig.12.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section ofshelf-mounting means illustrated in Fig. 15.

Fig. 18 isV a fragmentary end View, `with view taken on part brokenaway, of shelving structure 75.

shown on the rioht hand side of Fig.' 1.

Fig. 19 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 19-19 of Fig.k 1.

, The shelving of the presentv invention is designed to meet the need,especially urgent under modern quick-changing business conditions, formobility and adaptability in installations of this hind. 1t replaces theold style of built-iii shelving which ordinarily was left behind uponmovement of a busis ness to a new location, since the shelving providedfor herein does not require to be iin-ed to the adjacent floor and wallbut is selfsupporting. it the same time, the shelving is so constructedthat when set up it is firm and rigid, despite the fact that its ease oferection is a notable feature thereof. Moreover, means have beenprovided for inaling the shelving asl pleasing in appearance as it iseii'icient in use. 9

Each unit comprises separate longitudinally-ertending floor members orsills provided with means for receiving the vertical members, that is,the partitions and end walls. T he partitions are shown herein in twoforms, the solid panel type and the open frame type,

ythe latter being utilized for continuous shelvtractive appearance tothe erected shelving.l

`With reference first to Figs; 1, 2, 9 and 10: each shelving unit `ofthis invention comprises a pair of parallel floor members or sills 25,rectangular in cross section and extending longitudinally of a unit.Sills are of standard uniform construction. lntermediate the ends ofeach sill is formed a cross gain 37 (Figs. 1,10) extending acrosstheedges top face of the sill. On the upper face of each sill, at oneendthereof, isfiXed a bracket 26, having an arm 27 attached to the silland a tongue 28, projecting downwardly of the end of the sill in spacedrelationship therewith. The face of the sill'to which arm 27 is fixed,is cross gain-ed as at 29 (Fig. 9) to a depth equal to the thickness ofarm 27. The opposite end of each sill is similarly cross gained, as at30, upon the bottom face thereof, and in addition, said end is providedwith a. tenon 31. To the cross gained bottom face of this end is fixedthe flange 32`of an attachment member 33 (Fig. 9). ldember 33 is of thesaine width as tenon 31 and provides the portion 34 projecting upwardlyof the end of the tenon to the same plane as the upper face of the sill.Portion 34 is formed with a central receiving pocket 35 theupper edge 36of which. is slightly lower than the top edges of portion 34 adjacentthereto. Pocket 35 is adapted to receive a tongue 23 in snugrelationship. The solid panel type of partition 3S is seen in Figs. 1and 18. Each partition 38 (Fig. 1:) is .mor-v tisec. upon its lower edgeto cooperate with the c oss gains 37 of a pair of positioned sills 25.

The partition extends transversely beyond the front and rear sills.Adjacent its longitudinal edges, theV partition isprovided with rows ofaligned perforations 39. rhe front edge of the partition has apmoldingstrip 40 afixed thereto. K

` End walls 41 (Figs. 1, 27 3, 4, 5') areV now placed inposition if asingle unit only is tobe erected. iValls 41 are similar to partit-.ions33 and are provided with mortises andY with similar rows of perforationsaligned with those of the partition. The outer face of cach wall isgrooved longitudinally along the lines of perforations 39 for receivingveneer strips 42, preferably of a color contrasted with that ofthewalls, said strips lying iiush with the outer faces of the walls.Similar cross veneer strips may be provided adjacent the top and bottomof the walls. Molding strips 43 are attached along'thelfront edges ofthe walls'.Y At one end ofthe unit, the mortised yportions .ofthe endwall are inserted over th(` tenons 31 of the sills and between thebodies of the sillsand the portions 34 of the attachyment members 33(Figs. 2, 9). The wall at signed toreceive the tongues 28 of brackets26.

The sides 46 of the shoe are so spaced as to receive snugly an end wallor a partition. The width of the shoe is the same as that of tenons31and tocompensate for the latter, ablock 47 is fixed upon the base 48of the shoe.

In positioning the wall, therefore, at this end of the unit, a startingshoe is associated wvith each mortise on the bottom'edge of the wall,the'block 47 being of suchA thickness that the base 48 of theVpositioned shoe is :flush with the bottom edge of the wall. llhe pocketsadjacent the inner'face of the wall are now in position to receive thetongues 23 of the sill brackets 26, while the similar pockf,

ets 45 on the outer face of the wall, as well as the pockets 35 at theopposite end of the unit, iare'in readiness to be associated with othersills should other units of shelving be subsequently added.

The top and associated structure ofthe unit are likewise of standardizedmanufacture. Elongated brackets 49 (Figs. 4, 8) are permanently secured,one each, upon both faces of a partition 33 and upon the inner face ofthe end walls. Brackets 49 are placed centrally of the top edges of saidmembers andv provide an inwardlysprojecting ledge 50 flush with said topedges. Ledge 50 is provided with aligned elongated perforations 51 andwith strengthening` bosses 52. Two top members are provided for eachshelvingunit. Each comprises a panel 53 of the same width asthepartition and end walls and adapted to extend between the top edgesof a partition andan end wall, its ends reaching half way acrosssaidedges. Adjacent the ends and extending downwardly Vthrough y eachpanel 53, the bolts 54 are threadedly inserted,

these being receivable in perforatio-ns l of brackets 49 and beingadapted to receive `the nuts for removably securing the top panels inplace. rllhe front edge of the panel 53 has a downwardly-extendingribbon strip 56 (Fig. 8) attached thereto by means of an angle bracket57 (Fig. 4) adjacent each end of the panel. A molding strip 58 issecured along the upper edge of ribbon strip 56. After the two toppanels of a unit have been positioned, the line of abutment of thestrips and 58 is covered by an ornamental block 59 (Figs. l, 4, 8),conforming on its rear to the outline of the covered members. Block 59is preferably formed of an inner piece 60, an outer piece 6l and adiagon'ally-extending central veneer piece 62, whereby said member isstrengthened against repeated usage. It should be noted that the moldingstrips 49 of the partition and end walls terminate at the lower edges ofribbon strips 56. At the bottom of the unit, said strips terminate shortof the floor line to accommodate a bottom inoldingGS (Fig. l) which maybe attached to the adjacent edges of the erected partition and endwalls. Cover block 59 may be xed to the inner end of the edge structureof one of the top panels before positioning thereof but is preferably`positioned by means of glue. brads or the like, after the positioningof the top panels.

At the ends of panels 53, edgeA structure, similar in Aappearance tothat along vthe front of the panels, is provided. ll`his structurelsshown in Fig. 19, Yin which the molding strip 63 is formed with a rearledge 64, of lthe same thickness as top panel 53 and adapted to fitsnugly along the unoccupied outer h alf of the top edge 4of wall 4l.This mold-ing strip may be attached to the wall in any suitable way andextends forwardly to the saine extent as front molding strip 58, thefront end of strip 63 being formed in a shape complementary to theout-er face of strip 58. Along the lower edge of the strip a flange 65,spaced from wall 41, is provided. The ribbon strip 66 is secured betweenthis flange and the wall 4l. A block 59 (Fig. 4) is atf, taehed tomolding strip 63 and ribbon strip 66 adjacent the front end thereof, andanother bf said blocks is attached over the abutment line ofthe front.and end molding strips. The unit is thus provided with an attractivecornice structure.

The bottom shelf 67 (Fig. 2) lextends between partition 38 and an endwall 41 and is of the saine width as said members. `Upon its under faceare attached transverse suprport strips 69 adapted to rest 'upon sills25 and having downward extensions 70 adapted toenibrace the front of thesill for precluding forward and backward movement of the "shelf. Thefront edge of the shelf may be provided along its length with'apricevtag'or as previously described.

title strip 7l extending downwardly to contact the upper edge of molding68.

In the event that no strip 7l is needed upon the bottom shelf, saidshelf may be of the plain board type 670, indicated in dotted lines,Fig. 2. Shelf 670 seats directly upon the sills, without vthe use ofsupport strips, suchas 69. rl'h'e front edge of the shelf, in thisinstance, vcontacts the inner top portion of bottom molding 68, andprojects somewhat above said molding.

A form of bottom ledge 72 is illustrated in Fig. The molding 68 is notutilized with this form. The support strips 73 extend forwardly of theunit and are there provided with a ledge member 74, and angularlydisposed price tag strip 7 5, and bottom molding 76. Strip 73 terminatesbehind and interlocks with the front sill 25. Suitable end pieces 7 7close the open end of the ledge'structure. This ledge is especiallyadapted for use with vertical frames 94 to be described` Plain shelves726 may be seated upon the bottom end 89 of said frames.

The supporting means for the regular shelves comprise pins 78 (Figs. 6and 7) having' a body portion 7 9 receivable in the .perforations 39 ofthe partition 38, and provided at each end with a headed shank 8Oprojecting outwardly of the partition. Key-slotted angle brackets 8l arereceivable upon said headed shanks and provide ledges 82 upon which theshelves 83 are supported. The end walls 4l of a unit are provided, intheir perforations 39, with support pins 85 (Fig. 5) having only oneheaded shank which projects inwardly of the unit, the outer ends of theperforations being closed by veneer strip 42,

The shelves are provided with endwise notches 84 for receiving thebracket 8l and headed shank 80, whereby movement of the shelves isprecluded. As illustrated in Fig. l, the shelves 83 may be provided withlabel strips 7l along their front edges. lf desirable, the shelves, asshown in Fig. 18, may lbe angularly disposed by supporting them uponbrackets the front and rear pairs of which are at dierent heights.

The notches 84 in this case are of somewhatgreater length. Suchadjustments are possile due to the freely pivoting movement of thesupport brackets 8l upon their pins. A. support rail 86 (Figs. 1, 18)for goods placed upon the shelves may be disposed longitudinally of theshelves upon vertical pins 87 fixed inV and extending upwardly of theshelves.

In Figs. 3 and l2 to 17,1neans for continiu ous shelving areillustrated. The solid panel type of partition is replaced by an openframe or ladder type 94. This consists of a rectangular frame having thesides or stiles 88 and ends'89 of the same thickness as one of saidpartitions. The inner opposed edges'of 'st-iles 88 are giooved alongtheir length, as

is of the continuousshelving tipe.V

indicated at 9:0, and the resultingflanges 91, are provided withoppositely disposed bores 93=for .the reception of pins 92.y

For supporting continuous horizontal shelving ay shelf rest 95 (Figs.14, 15) is provided. This consists preferably of af metal strip havingits central longitudinal section formed to provide a Abody portion "96,U shaped in cross section, and its lateral secr tions turned outwardlyin a common plane to provide flanges 97, which are cut off short of theends of the body 96. Adjacent each end ofthe body, the base is notchedas at 9S.. The ends of said body are adapted to fit snugly in thegrooves 90 of thee-tiles 88 and one of the pins 92 is receivable in the`notch 98 at each end of the body 96, whereby the shelf rest supportedtransversely of the frame 94. The shelf rests 102 usedin the endframesof a unit are illustrated clearly in Figs. 13, 16, 1'?.-

In these the distance between the sides of tthe body,7 portion 103 issubstantially half that of the shelf rest previously described. Asinglev flange 97V isprovided on each, said flange being adaptedtoproject inwardly-ofthe unit. rEhe bore 93 of Vthe end vframes is notcom.- pleted through the outermost stile flange 91.

A panel such vas the veneer panel 99 is posi-- tioned within the endframes abutting the members 102. The panel may beretained in place bycorner molding 100 attached to inner edges of stiles 88 and ends 89 ofthe frame and to thelateralface portions'of the panel, (Figs. 12, 13,16). The shelves 101`are supported upon the lianoes 97 and are providedwith notched corners embracing stiles 88 as far as the longitudinalCenters vof said stiles (Figs. 12 and 14). Y

In the event it is desired lto 'dispose 'the shelves angularly eachshelf rest lisi supported upon pins at different heights. Suchdisposition necessitates the use of somewhat longer shelf4 rests tocompensate for the inclinaftion, the essential structure being otherwisethe same, moreover the shelves should preferably Abe of somewhat greaterwidth.

ATo permit the abutting shelves in adjacent sections of a unit beingdisposed at different inclinations, it is obvious that shelf members 102may be pin to non-aligned relationship.

New units may be added to the iirst unit,

VAerected as described, by replacing the end walls 41er he end frames94, with parti- 1 tions 33 or with .unpaneled'frames .94, de-

pending upon whether or not the erected unit The single-headed shelfsupportpms are replaced kwith double-headed pins. After suchreplacements, a pair of sills attached at either or both ends of theerected unit, by

- inserting the tongues 28 into the pochets35,

identical with that heretofore described'. In

ivotally moved, uponthe same this waythe shelving installations of thisvinvention may be increased or decreased as needed in varyingcircumstances and locations. Y

What is claimed is:

V1. Knockdown shelving units each comprisingbase members', verticalmembers supportable by the base members, top members andmeans forremovable attachment thereof to the erected shelving unit.

2. In a shelving unit,t e combination with removable base, top andperforated vertical members, of pins insertable. inthe perforations ofsaid vertical members and having endsadap-ted to Vproject outwardly ofthe perforate members,braclret members each adapted to be pivotally andremovably support-ed upon one of said projecting ends, and shelvesadaptedto be removably supported uponv said brackets.

3. In a lrnocldown shelving unit, the combination of a pairY of sillmembers tenoned at one end and cross gained intermediate their ends, anupwardly-opening receiving member attached to the tenoned ends of saidsills, downwardly-projecting tongue members attached upon the oppositeends of the sills, a perforatepartition having a mitred bottomedge'adapted to cooperate with the cross gaining of the sills forsupporting the partition, a pair of end walls perforated and mitredsimilarly to saidpartition, one of said walls being receivable upon saidtenoned ends between said receivingmembers and the body ets, said tonguefmembers of the sills being lreceivable one each 1n one of said pocketsfor supportingsaid Aend-wall, top members, cooperatingmeans on saidmembers and on the partition and end wallsfor removably joining all ofsaid members, bottom shelves supportable upon the sills Vand providedwith means precluding movement of the shelves transversely of theVunit,=headed pins insertable in the perforations of partition and wallsand projecting inwardly ofthe unit, brackets removably supported uponsaid pins, and shelves` supportable upon vthe `brackets and providedwithl means precluding movement thereof transversely ofthe unit,theoute'r portions of vsaid receiving and pocket members being adaptedforattachment with other sills wherebyv similar units may beadded to theerected shelving unit. Y Y

4. In a knockdownshelvingunit',`the .combinationrofsill members, aperforate partition and perforate end Walls adapted to be supported bysaid sills, top members and means for attachment thereotl to thepartition and end Walls, bottom shelves supportable upon the sills, pinsinsertable in the perforations of the partition and end Walls and havingheads adapted to project inwardly of the unit, brackets removablysupportable upon said pins, shelves supportable upon the brackets, meanssubstantially precluding movement of the shelves transversely of theunit, and means on the sills for attaching similar units t-o the erectedshelving unit.

5. In a shelving unit, the combination of sill members adapted forspaced parallel positioning, receiving members at one end of the sills,tongue members attached at the other end ofthe sills, a pair of Wallmembers, one Wall oit the unit being supportable by said receivingmembers, and U-shaped shoe members adapted to be positioned upon thebase of the other ,vall and to receive the tongues ot said tonguemembers tor supporting said other Wall, said receiving and shoe membersproviding means on the exterior ol the Walls for attachment thereto ofthe sills of additional units.

6. In a shelving unit, the combination ot base members, vertical panelssupportable upon the base members and provided with rovvs of alignedperforations, top members, cooperating means onthe panel and top membersfor removable connection thereof, double-headed pins insertable in theperforations of intermediate panels, single-headed pins insertable inthe pertorations of the end panels, the heads of said pins projectinginwardly ot the unit, key-slotted brackets pivotallv receivable uponsaid heads, and shelves supportable upon the brackets and slotted toreceive the heads and brackets for precluding movement of the positionedshelves transversely of the unit.

7. In a shelving unit, the combination of base members, vertical panelssupportable upon the base members and provided with rows of alignedperforations, top members, cooperating means on the panel and topmembers for remova le connection thereof, double-headed pins insertablein the pertorations of intermediate panels, singleheaded pins insertablein the perforations of the end panels, the heads of said pins projectinginwardly of the unit, key-slotted brackets pivotally receivable uponsaid heads, shelves supportable upon the brackets and slotted to receivethe heads and brackets for precluding movement of the positioned shelvestransversely of the unit, means closing the out-er ends of theperforations in the end pan-els, and means associated With the base memers for attaching similar units to the erected shelving unit.

8. In a shelving unit, the combination ot base members, vertical panelssupportable upon the base members and provided with rows of alignedperforation's, top members,

cooperating means on the panel and top members for removable connectionthereof, double-headed pins insertable in the perforations ofintermediate panels, single-headed pins insertable in the perforationsot the endV panels, the heads o'f said pins projecting inwardly of theunit, key-slotted brackets pivotally receivable upon said heads, andshelves supportable upon the brackets and slotted to receive the headsand brackets for precluding movement of the positioned shelvestransversely of the unit, sai-d brackets being adapted to retain shelvesin horizontal and inclined positions.

9. In a knockdovvn shelving unit the combination of base members, apartition and end Walls supportable upon the base members, top members,means on the top, partition and end members for separably oonnectingsaid members, shelves and removable shelf-mounting means attachable tothe partition and end Walls, complementary molding structure on the toppartition and Wall members,`and covering pieces secured to members ofthe unit and adapted to cover abutment linesof the separable membersupon assembling of the unit.

l0. The combination in a. continuous shelving unit, ot base members,rectangular frames provided with a groove and perforate flanges alongtheir opposed longitudinal edges, means for supporting the frames'transversely of the base members, top members, cooperating means on theframes and top members for removably connectino' said members andframes, pins insertable in the perforations ot said edge flanges andadapted to extend 'across said groove, shelf rests adapted to extendtransversely of the frames, said shelf rests comprising each a bodyportion having ends insertable in said grooves and pivotally supportableupon a pair of said pins and flanges extending at substantially rightangles to said body portions, and shelving adapted to entend throughsaid Jframes and to be supported upon the flanges of the shelf rests.

1l. The combination in a. continuous shelving' unit, or base members,rectangular frames provided with a groove and pertorate flanges alongtheir opposed longitudinal edges, means for supporting the framestransversely of the base members, top members, cooperating means on theframes and top members for removably connecting said members and frames,pins insertable in the perforations of said edge flanges and adapted toeX- tend across said groove, shell:` rests adapted to extendtransversely of the intermediate frames of the unit, said shelf restscomprising` each a body portion having ends insertable in said groovesland supportable upon a pair of sai-d pins and divergent flanges eX-tending at substantially-right anglesto said body portion, similar shelfrests for positioning in the end frames of theunit and providing each a,single liange extendinginwardly of the unit, continuous shelving adaptedtov extend throughsaid frames and to be supported upon the flanges ofthe shelf rests, and

panels adapted to be positioned in the end frames against the shelfrests therein.

12. The combination in a continuous shelving unit, of base members,rectangular frames provided witha groove and perforate flanges alongtheir opposed longitudinal edges, means for supporting the framestransversely of theV base members, top members, cooperating means on theframes and top members for removably connecting said members andframes,.pins insertable in the f v perforations of said edge anges andadapted to extend across, .said groove, shelf rests 'adapted toV extendtransverselyrof the frames,

said shelf rests `coi'nprising each a body portion havinge'ndsinsertable in said grooves and pivotally `supportable upon a pair ofsaid pins and aflange extending at substantially right angles to saidbodyy portion, units of shelving adapted to extend through said framesand to be supported one eaohupon a pair of said shelf rests, each pinofthe intermediate framesbeing adapted to support two f of lsaid shelfrests whereby adjacent shelf rests and shelves may Vbe'disposed inunaligned relationship, and panelsiadapted to be positioned in the outerportions of the end frames and in abutment with the shelf` restssupported therein.Y

13. In a shelving struoture,'the combination with shelves andvertically-supported rectangular frames having a pair of perforatelianges along the opposed longitudinal edgesthereof, of a shelf restcomprising a body portion having each end notched at the bottom thereofand insertable between said flanges, a ledge portionextending outwardlyof said body portion, and pins insertable in the perforations of saidflanges and adapted to extend transversely thereof, the notches of theshelf rest being receivable by a pair of said pins for supportingtheshelf restY transversely of a frame, and'theshelves being supportableupon the ledgesfof shelf restsl so positioned. i Y

lIn testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribedV my name this 23rdlday of January,

1931. Y Y i EDWARD o. connus,

